ASTRAGALUS

Blows The Doors Off Echinacea! You've heard how the herb echinacea can halt budding colds. Wouldn't it be great if we had an herb that worked the same way against cancer? There is! It's called ASTRAGALUS and it was first identified by Chinese herbalists thousands of years ago. Modern research now tells us it literally brings your immune cells back to life. In fact, it can even repair cells damaged by cancer and radiation. As if that weren't enough, researchers say astragalus even prevents colds and flu! And unlike echinacea, it's safe to take every day.

Q: How can the effectiveness of antibiotics be increased? A: As far back as 1961, studies showed that bromelain (an enzyme from pineapple stems) could improve the ability of some antibiotics to treat infections. Bromelain may increase the absorption of antibiotics into the blood and may have infection-fighting properties. Take 500 mg of bromelain, in tablet or capsule form, three times daily when you are on antibiotics. Because antibiotics also destroy probiotics (beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract), eat cultured yogurt daily while taking antibiotics. I also suggest natural immune boosters to stimulate your immune system, such as vitamin C and the herbs echinacea, astragalus and Larix. All are available at health-food stores and can be taken individually or in a combination formula. Though generally safe, immune enhancers shouldn't be used by people with autoimmune disorders, such as lupus, or while pregnant or nursing. The bottom line is yes, you want your immune system to respond strongly to any pathogens -- but not too strongly. If it responds too strongly, the costs can outweigh the benefits. An overactive immune system can lead to:

Sustained systemic inflammation Autoimmune disorders Overactive responses to allergens Even death, as in the case of avian flu

So exactly what does that mean:

It means that you do want to use immune builders such as

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Echinacea Pau darco Suma Astragalus Medicinal mushrooms AHCC Beta glucans Aloe vera Alkyglycerol Lactoferrin Bovine colostrums Glutathione Mangosteen Colostrum

But it means you also want a supply of natural antipathogens on hand to ratchet down the need for a high level immune system response.
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Garlic Olive leaf extract Oil of wild mountain oregano Grapefruit seed extract

It's also a good idea to regularly supplement with natural immunomodulators that help to regulate immune response - moving a weak immune system up and calming an overactive immune system down. These include
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L-carnosine Colostrum CMO

When it comes to fighting disease and staying healthy, your immune system is your best friend. You want the strongest immune system response you can have without it being so strong that it overtaxes the body. If you can tone down the strength of the pathogenic

attack, then a strong immune system works in your favor -- finishing off the invading little buggers as quickly as possible, but without the need to drain down your reserves. But if you don't ratchet down the strength of the attack, your immune system actually works against you -- causing chronic inflammation, immune system disorders, overactive allergy responses, or as in the case of avian flu, potentially killing you.

Astragalus Astragalus root is an immunostimulant used in the treatment of chronic viral infections, hepatitis, edema, common cold, and flu. In vitro, Astragalus increases the interferon response to viral infection and works synergistically with administered interferon. And astragulus increases phagocytic activity and antibody levels and improves the functioning of natural killer cells.

Favorite winter supplements. To ward off seasonal colds and flu, Dr. Rubman prescribes immune-enhancing herbs such as echinacea and astragalus in combination. Other immune-protective supplements are selenium, zinc and vitamins C and E.

Q: I read recently that the herb astralagus may be used to correct organ prolapse. Does that include the uterus? Dr. Wright: For those readers that may not be familiar with it, prolapse occurs when an organ slips out of place within the body. The use of astragalus for organ prolapse comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In TCM, astragalus is used for a variety of prolapse syndromes, including a prolapsed uterus. For this application, the root is taken by decoction (simmering in hot water) and the typical dose is between 10 to 30 grams per day.

A Healthy Answer For Swine Flu Protection Dear TONY: Theres been a lot of talk about the swine flu these last two weeks. The immediate danger to most parts of the country is very small. Even so, all these news reports have got people thinking about what they can do to protect themselves. Ive already had several patients ask me what they can do to keep from getting sick. A strong immune system plays an important role. I recommend three things to all my patients to help the immune system stay strong and healthy. Take Vitamin C, get enough sleep, and wash your hands regularly. Ive recently added a fourth suggestion to that list. If you really want to give your immune system the support it needs, then I recommend astragalus.

Chinese Herb Gives You Dramatic Results In Chinese medicine, astragalus has been used for thousands of years in many, many different ways. Ancient Chinese healers used astragalus to reduce the affects of stress on the body. Whether a patient suffered from physical, emotional, mental, or environmental stress, healers used astragalus to help the person cope better and to prevent detrimental effects that stress might have on health. Astragalus was used to make the body better able to fight off diseases. People took the herb to protect against colds and infections as well as more serious conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. Healers also prescribed astragalus to help increase the vitality of their patients. Even healthy patients could benefit from the improvement in stamina and energy that astragalus delivered. The history of astragalus is very interesting, but its the recent research on this herbal supplement that has me excited about recommending it to my patients. Modern-Day Research Backs Up the Benefits of Astragalus In the realm of modern medicine, the powerful health benefits of astragalus are just coming to light. It turns out there are good reasons why Chinese healers used astragalus for so many purposes. The herb is powerful and versatile when it comes to supporting your overall health. One of things I like best about it is that it works as both a preventative and as a treatment for many illnesses.

Astragalus has a number of valuable properties. It contains complex sugar molecules called polysaccharides that help strengthen the immune system. It has antibacterial properties that help to fight off infections and a number of diseases. It also works as an antioxidant and helps to protect your cells from damage. It has anti-mutagenic properties that make it a powerful ally in preventing cancer. And it helps reduce chronic, low-level inflammation that contributes to so many age-related diseases. I just read a recent study in which scientists discovered that astragalus actually works to keep your cells younger. It stimulates the activity of telomerase, an enzyme that helps protect the DNA within your cells and that may slow aging at a cellular level. Younger cells mean less diseaseespecially cancerand a slower overall aging process. In animal studies, researchers have also verified the effects of astragalus on stamina and vitality. In mice induced with chronic fatigue syndrome, astragalus helped to restore balance to the production of inflammatory cytokines and it increased the mices endurance. For strengthening the immune system, astragalus works in a number of ways. It helps remove pathogens, it stimulates T-cell activity, and it activates a number of antiviral systems within your body. Through these means, astragalus supplements can protect you from everyday illnesses like the cold and flu. Other research shows that it can be an effective treatment for these illnesses, as well, helping you to recover faster. The immune-boosting properties of astragalus are so powerful that it actually interferes with immune suppressing drugs. These drugs are most commonly given to transplant patients to reduce rejection. If youre on an immune suppressant for any reason, you shouldnt take astragalus. Otherwise, this powerful supplement can benefit you greatly. The recommended dosage for astragalus is one to 25 grams a day. You can find astragalus at health food stores. Its commonly available as a standardized extract or in powdered capsules. For the best results, I prefer the extract. Your body will be better able to absorb it. Whether youre worried about the swine flu or looking for a good way to promote your overall health and slow down the aging processes in your body, astragalus is a good option. Give it a try Im certain youll be pleased with the results.